The Curse of the Volumizing Ribbon

Mina was a woman who lived for awkward silence. To her, a quiet elevator was a sanctuary. However, her peaceful life ended the day she bought a high-tech, neon-pink hair ribbon. She thought it was just a simple accessory, but she didn’t realize it acted like a magnet for social interaction.

As soon as she walked into the office, her boss shouted, "I love your style! That color really suits you!" Mina panicked. She knew she should say, "I’m glad you noticed," but instead, she just blinked.

In the breakroom, her coworker Sarah stared at her hair. "Wow, Mina! Did you use a volumizing shampoo? You have such good volume today. I’m so jealous because my hair is thinning lately."

Mina tried to escape, but Sarah continued. "Seriously, your thick hair looks amazing. I can’t even see a single stray strand of hair out of place. What’s your secret? Do you put kale in a blender? Is it the tannins in your tea? Or maybe an astringent scalp treatment?"

Mina felt suffocated. Every time someone complimented her, she felt forced to keep the conversation going. By lunchtime, ten people had told her, "That really suits your vibe." It was a nightmare. She couldn't even eat her sandwich without someone asking for the name of her stylist.

Exasperated, Mina ran to the restroom, ripped the pink ribbon off, and threw it into the trash. "Finally," she whispered. "Now I can be invisible again."

She walked back into the hallway, head down, enjoying the silence. Suddenly, a stranger stopped her. "Excuse me," the woman said. "I love how you did your hair today! It looks so natural and free. You’ve got a great sense of style!"

Mina froze. She wasn't wearing the ribbon anymore, but people were still talking to her. She realized with horror that the ribbon wasn't the problem—it was her. She was just the kind of person who made others want to talk. She sighed and finally gave in.

"Thanks," Mina said, forcing a smile. "I appreciate that. Want to guess where I got my haircut?"